Page 65 of Untamed

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Laude held up a finger to get our attention. “So, I’m not exactly well versed in everything whyzer and all, but the queen says only one person around the Agata Sea could curse inked words and a person’s tongue.”

Zichri smoothed a weary hand over his face and returned the documents.

I pinched the corner of the paper, suddenly feeling as if the ink could poison me with a mere touch and stuffed them into the leather pouch. “Who?”

A hard edge traced the syllables of Laude’s pronunciation. “Whyzer Patro.”

Zichri let out a mirthless laugh. “The whyzer was our prisoner in Himzo. I should have known. Now to find out which of my brothers made a deal with the devil.”

“I have a terrible feeling about all of this.” Laude hugged herself and her stomach growled. The sour expression on her face reflected my sentiments. Fleeing seemed the best option, but we could never do that without the rest of the group.

Chapter 27

Beatriz

Laude and I tooka long walk around the palace, our steps weighed with the knowledge that we only had a few days to live should The Black Knight get his way. By the time we made it to our guest quarters, our forced silence had become so charged that my markings lit up on their own, and I didn’t stop it. Invisible tentacles crept from my body and vined their way around Laude, dragging back panic and four horrifying words:Whyzer Patro must die.

To break the connection, I stepped out onto the balcony, praying.Ancient One, there must be a way to know who’s involved without risking passing into the afterlife. I beg for wisdom.

Scanning the dock, I let my gaze drift over people the size of a child’s plaything from this height. Zichri, Jaime, my brother, and all his friends could have disappeared for all we knew.

“Beatriz.” Laude had a note of shock in her voice.

I marched into the immaculate bedroom. “What’s wrong?”

She pointed to a red hibiscus and a white rose atop folded parchments on a side table.

My heart faltered. This could be some sort of trick or a friendly gesture. I picked up the red hibiscus and found my name scrawled in Zichri’s handwriting. A sigh escaped my throat. A friendly gesture.

Laude snatched the note under the white rose and squealed with delight. “They must have had these sent.” The awe in her voice lifted the boulder from my heart. “What does yours say? Mine says Jaime wants to pick me up here at sunset to accompany me to the dining hall.”

“Mine says,” I flipped the note open and read, “May I have the first dance tonight? Zichri.”

She clung to my arm and bounced on her toes. “This is so exciting. But Pri—Beatriz!” She stepped back, sweeping her gaze over me. “We only have a couple of hours. You cannot have your first dance with Zichri looking like…” She gestured over my whole body.

“Are you trying to say I need to change?” I lifted my chin.

“Yes, and you need a bath.” She pulled on the chain to call the servants.

By the time the sun had painted the sky into shades of orange and purple, Laude approved of my appearance. She had braided my hair, since she was convinced that no maid would meet her standards and had helped me into my dress.

“You know you’re more than my lady-in-waiting and not a maid anymore?” I stood in front of a full-length mirror while she adjusted the back of my bodice.

“This is my specialty. You wouldn’t rob your best friend of this joy?” She caught my eye in the mirror, observing my reaction.

A slow grin twisted up the corners of my mouth. “Yes, Laude, you are my best friend, and I would never rob you of this joy.”

Her shoulders relaxed a fraction. I hadn’t realized she was insecure about her standing with me, especially since I had been very forthright. With all the secrets and vows, could there be more to her fears? But I couldn’t imagine what else she might hide. Someone knocked at the door, and Laude sauntered to answer it in her sky-blue gown swirling around her legs.

I longed for a moment alone with Zichri where I could enjoy his company without Cosme’s prying stare, Monserrat’s inquisitive arched eyebrow, or even Laude’s unflinching attention. But the heavy burden strapped under my puffy sleeve with cursed words and the date of my last breath kept me from basking in the prospect of my first formal dance with Zichri. My olive green overdress bespoke my love for Giddel, and I tucked the relic under my gown.

Laude flung open the door to find Zichri and Jaime holding bouquets out to us. Jaime had slicked back his dark hair in the Aracibel fashion, but Zichri kept his in its usual rogue style, the one where his hair tips fell loose around his ears. I sucked in air at the sight of him.

Laude flung herself into Jaime’s strong embrace as he held her bouquet up to keep it from being crushed. “Pink! My favorite color.”

I measured my steps, trying to maintain a firm line over my lips, ever the princess. A smile still broke across my face despite my attempt to be subdued. Silly, I know. Zichri extended his fiery bundle. A coral hibiscus with streaks of hot pink in the center; red, yellow, and orange petals filled the rest of the bunch.

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